Wichita Area Hidden Secret #1

Our family has some favorite things to do in the Wichita area. Every time we find a new one I think I am going to write a short blog about it and give the place some kuddos so here goes with #1! Hopefully you will check the places out and enjoy them as much as we have!

Wichita Area Hidden Secret #1 - Mosley Street Melodrama

This is an absolute FAVORITE place for Mike and I to go on a date night! The first time we went was with a group from Mike's military unit for a Christmas party and we left there having laughed so hard our faces hurt. That was 9 years ago and we still love going to their shows. 

Cast from a show we attended

The actors are full of talent. Some do this in their off season, others are there every show. A few of our favorites are Scott Noah, Monte Wheeler and Marty Gilbert (who married our good friend Astrid and is also the stage manager!). The servers are really great too and manage the entire room easily. Ask for Astrid if you go and tip big!

My Mom being pestered by the villain!

I would highly recommend their Christmas show but call early. There are lots of business Christmas parties that get scheduled so they fill up fast. They do a great job with large groups so if you need a place to schedule your office Christmas party, this is the place to go. One group I took was to the Christmas show and we went in November. Perfect time since everyone wasn't crazy busy with Christmas stuff yet.

My Aunt Monica and I enjoying our drink of the night

Mosley Street is an audience participation theatre. That means you have certain things you say when a character comes on stage. Every time the villain comes on stage you yell "BOO, HISS!" and "YEAH!" for the hero. Then there are the select few audience members that get to go on stage to actually participate in something during the show.  Mike has actually been up there in a coconut bra and grass skirt! The story lines are hilarious and the musical comedy review showcases the singing talents of the cast.  Having a birthday or anniversary?  Make sure you let them know when making your reservation.  The lucky person will get to take a picture (so stinking funny!) with a member of the staff to take home with them. Bring out the Polaroid! They have an open bar and always a yummy drink of the night, plenty of popcorn for your table and if you are hungry, you must have dinner there.  They serve wonderful bbq from Pig In Pig Out!

 If I haven't convinced you yet to do this on your next date night, call me.  Mike and I would love to go with you and show you the ropes.  Good friends, good food and good shows. Nothing better!

Water Fluoridation in Wichita

A family who is passionate about having healthy teeth!

 About a month ago, my son had his first visit to the dentist.  While I know some of you take your kids to the dentist long before this, ours does not see them until age four and I am guessing this is because its when he went on our insurance.  Anyway, I was nervous for him.  The kid had been to the dentist to watch me go through cleanings, etc since he was born and I have to say, it wasn't pretty.  Up until about age 3 he threw the biggest screaming fits and the poor ladies in the office would do whatever possible (including fill up his tummy with freezie pops) to get him to calm down.  So driving to our dentist that day, I was a little on the nervous side.  I mean, the kid had to sit in the chair by himself and get his teeth cleaned.  With the little tools that look like torture weapons.  Well, he did great.  No problems and picked the zebra polisher and cinnamon tooth polish all by himself.  Then came the bad news.  Two cavities.  In a four year old.  Are you kidding me?  But there they were.  I have looked at enough dental xrays in my life to know no one was pulling my leg.  I was furious at myself.  I felt we had brushed his teeth like we should have, didn't feed him excessive amounts of sugar/juice, etc and took care of his teeth.  I instantly thought of my experiences in the chair getting fillings and began to panic for my son.  How could we, his parents, have let this happen?  The hygienist explained that the cavities were not in between his teeth where food can get stuck and cause cavities if not brushed or flossed out.  The cavities were in the middle of his teeth.  Could be brushing but since we felt we were doing a good job in that department I didn't believe that was the problem.  So explain to me how a four year old gets cavities?  Then the dentist told me.  Wichita does not have fluoride added to their water and this is the cause of lots of tooth decay in the area.  Possibly my son's.  Since Wyatt's birth, we have lived in two towns outside of Wichita, both of which use Wichita water for our supply.  I. WAS. FURIOUS.  How can something so simple and inexpensive not be done to prevent tooth decay in my kids ( In comparable cities to Wichita, it costs 50 cents per person per year to fluoridate the water)? 

Mike and I talked at length about it and figured out that we have both had way more cavities since moving to this area than anywhere previous.  Both of us grew up with fluoridated water.  So I started doing research and I ask that you do to.  Below is some information I want to share with you and I welcome any comments.  Talk to your dentist about it too.  I truly believe this is an issue that any parent in the Wichita area should be well versed on and while I know each of us has our own beliefs on supplements to our family's diets, I believe you will agree this is one that is a must.

Following my son's fillings, both of which he was a champ for, our dentist told us our son's teeth are hard like chalk instead of hard like granite.  Thus, more susceptible to tooth decay.  He was put on a fluoride supplement to hopefully catch the permanent teeth forming in his mouth and make them stronger.  This has been an eye opener for our family and should be for yours.  I can't believe how much money, stress, time and teeth could have been saved if Wichita had fluoridated their water.  Fluoride is not a poison, it is a mineral that is a necessity for healthy teeth!

Information on Fluoride  www.fluoridefor.us/low-cost/

I encourage you to email your city council members regarding this issue.  They are currently split on the issue with one undecided.  The more parents emailing them with their stories, the better.  Use the form at this link and select Entire City Council under choose a council member you want to contact.

Email the Wichita City Council

Thank you for reading!

4th of July Fun!

Today ended such a fun-filled week for us. The 4th of July is a special holiday to our family with my husband in the military.  Our family is pretty blessed because of what he does and the 4th is a great way to spend some time together. 

This year Wyatt was way into fireworks.  Thankfully his Dad has interest in it too because I do not.  When I grew up, we were usually in the middle of wheat harvest for the 4th and wheat stubble and dry conditions did not make a good recipe for the addition of fireworks.  So, we never had them.  This is not going to fly with Wyatt.  Once he learned what the white tents were for on every corner, we were getting fireworks at our house.  He took his Dad to buy some and promptly informed me upon returning that they had missiles and he wanted one.  Great!

This kid loved her corn! :)

My parents made the last minute decision to come visit us and when they got here we loaded them and the kids in the car and headed to the Esterline home for some 4th of July fun!  It is never a dull moment when we are all together.  Five total kids under the age of 4 1/2 means everyone is on their toes and moving.  We were also blessed to get to see the Munn's who I haven't seen in oh so long.  We all went swimming (Wyatt for 3 hrs!) and Then. There. Was. Dinner.  Can you say yummmmmm?  Mr. Nick made us some of the best steak EVER.  The grilled corn was pretty fantastic too.  Just ask Lorelai!  He and my husband are now in the ranks of the best at the grill if you ask me.  I wish I had taken a picture of it all but alas, you will just have to trust me on this one!

These two had just as much fun as the little kiddos!

We then headed to the street and the fireworks started!  Wyatt was in heaven and so were the rest of the boys.  Nick and Mike included.  The bigger the boom, the better. 

Hanging out in the shade with Grandma and Grandpa

Thanks so much to our friends for hosting our family.  We had such a great time and it was fun being with both our family and friends for this special holiday.

Baby Housten did not appreciate the fireworks!

On Friday we kicked out the Grandparents (not hardly!) and ushered in Aunt Shelley!  Wyatt and Lorelai were having a ball with all these people around.  Way more fun than just dealing with Mom and Dad!  We spent the rest of the weekend just hanging out at home and doing a few projects here and there.  Mike and my Dad got a door replaced before they left for home and it is so nice to have a new door to the garage.  And the bonus?  They didn't kill each other! :)  We are now exhausted and all needing to get back on a schedule of sorts but it was so much fun.  Way worth the kids being cranky here and there and me not being able to keep my eyelids open.  So to that, I hope you all had a great 4th of July.  I hope you were as blessed as we were to spend so much time with our family and friends!